Event Preview | Zandari Festa 2016 (MusiCube)

Now that Sound City and Zandari Festa are working together, following on from last year's highly impressive showcase, now the hottest festival event in South Korea is back, this time running from 30th September until 3rd October, across numerous venues in the Hongdae area of Seoul. What can people expect from 2016's event, though? Following on from the radio show over on K-Pop Korner that featured Biuret, Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, Southway, Goonam, and Sons of Tiger, now Cubed3's MusiCube series has some choice quotes from both Korean and British artists performing there this year.

Flying the Flag for South Korea

Danpyunsun, guitarist and vocalist for Danpyunsun and the Sailors

Why do you think Zandari Festa is a good festival for Korea's indie scene?

It provides good opportunities for bands, and it also teaches bands the importance of DIY. Zandari Festa recommends bands to take charge of their own showcase. Some bands take a passive position that makes for an uninteresting performance, but if a band has drive and brilliant ideas, they can make a great showcase that audiences will rave about.

What can people expect from your performance at Zandari Festa 2016?

We are fast, gigantic, confusing, and beautiful. Our sound is made with a violin, acoustic guitar, and percussion, without electric guitar or drums. We invite you to a paradise, or heaven, where Asia and other places are mixed together without borders. You may encounter the most modernistic Asian music from us.

Do you have any plans to tour in the UK in the future?

Yes! After Zandari Festa, we'll be coming to London to play as part of the K-Music 2016 Festival. We're performing on 21st October at Rich Mix with the Seoul rock band Asian Chairshot. Please come and check out our show!

Keunyoung Lee, bassist and vocalist for Full Garage

Why do you think Zandari Festa is a good festival for Korea's indie scene?

The festival gives indie bands a very good opportunity to play for a new audience.

How do you feel about Korea's indie scene starting to become more popular overseas?

It's great! About 15 years ago, it was really difficult for Korean indie bands to have the chance to play shows overseas, but now many Korean indie bands are trying to go abroad and share their music with audiences in other countries. More bands are now looking to do their own DIY tours without the help of big record labels or promotion companies. We actually did a DIY American tour this summer in support of our new 'Vinyl Suit' 7-inch record. We got introduced to different local scenes on the US West Coast and it was a really good experience for our band. There are lots of opportunities and listeners for acts outside of Korea. I hope that more and more good Korean indie bands get the chance to share their music in lots of different places around the world.

What can people expect from your performance at Zandari Festa 2016?

We're strongly influenced by '90s melodic hardcore/punk, like NOFX and Green Day, and we've mixed those influences with a little bit of '80s and '90s Korean pop, too. If you like fast and melodic punk rock, our showcase is something you should definitely check out.

Does Full Garage have any plans to tour in the UK in the future?

Not right now, but maybe we'll get a good chance to do that in the future.

Mohho and Eeeho of Howaho

Why do you think Zandari Festa is a good festival for Korea's indie scene?

Mohho: It's the only festival in Korea made by live clubs and bands together. We hope it helps the indie scene here continue to grow.

How do you feel about Korea's indie scene starting to become more popular overseas?

Eeeho: It's good, but many bands still need more support and opportunities, though.

What can people expect from your performance at Zandari Festa 2016?

Mohho: Our music is a kind of ambient folk. We are preparing a performance with a VJ and a dancer for Zandari Festa. It will be like reading a novel, which is why we've called our showcase 'A novel from unknown origin.' Don't miss it.

Do you have any plans to tour in the UK in the future?

Eeeho: We'd love to go to the UK if there are chances for us to perform there. We believe our music fits everywhere.

Junho Lee, guitarist and vocalist for The Veggers

Why do you think Zandari Festa is a good festival for Korea's indie scene?

Bands get to perform alongside a wide variety of artists in venues they may not usually play in, and groups get a longer performance time than usual club shows. Those are two reasons why we love Zandari and think it's a good festival.

How do you feel about Korea's indie scene starting to become more popular overseas?

It's obviously a good thing. Korea's indie scene is small, so it's very beneficial to acts to be able to tour and share their music in other places outside of Korea. We did a European tour this past Spring and it was a great experience for us.

What can people expect from your performance at Zandari Festa 2016?

This will be our first time playing at Zandari as a trio. We're going to play some new songs that we'll be releasing soon and some tracks that we don't usually play. I think you should definitely come check our showcase out.

Do you have any plans to tour in the UK in the future?

As I mentioned before, we toured in Europe several months ago, and we're interested in going back. We'd love to play in the UK too if we have the chance.

Earip

Why do you think Zandari Festa is a good festival for Korea's indie scene?

Zandari Festa is a showcase festival based in Hongdae, which is the heart of Korea's indie scene. This festival allows acts to gain greater exposure and meet lots of new people.

How do you feel about Korea's indie scene starting to become more popular overseas?

I think it is a positive thing and look forward to seeing how things continue to develop.

What can people expect from your performance at Zandari Festa 2016?

I'll play new tracks and old songs on my nylon guitar and will be joined by session players on cello and piano. There will be lots of wonderful sounds for people to enjoy.

Do you have any plans to tour in the UK in the future?

I have no plans to tour in the UK, but I hope I can perform there someday.

Flying the Flag for the UK

Elle Exxe

Will this be your first time performing in South Korea?

Yes! I think it might even be my first time on the continent!

What does it mean to you to be able to represent the UK in Korea at Zandari Festa?

It means a great deal. It's such a privilege and honour to have been invited. I have heard so much great music coming out of Korea and I can't wait to see what the response will be to my sound out there. I'm so happy to have been given this opportunity.

What can Korean audiences expect from your performance at Zandari Festa?

They can expect to be entertained! My show is energetic and liberating. My shows are a place for people to let go of their inhibitions and enjoy themselves - that's what it's all about.

How will you be choosing your set to appeal to a new audience at Zandari Festa?

I've created a bit of an "in-your-face" set to grab people's attention and get them in the zone with us.

Alex Soper, guitarist and vocalist for Coquin Migale

Will this be your first time performing in South Korea?

Yeah, this is our first time and we're so excited! It's something to tick off the bucket list as it's a dream show for us and we know it's going to be wicked!

What does it mean to you to be able to represent the UK in Korea at Zandari Festa?

It's an incredible feeling to think that we've been selected to represent what the UK has to offer. There's some real class bands coming through at the moment and it's an honour to be chosen to be part of this. It's an opportunity we've been waiting for as we know we're more than capable of stepping up and getting vibe-y in Asia.

What can Korean audiences expect from your performance at Zandari Festa?

A lot of energy! Each of our tracks has its own unique world. The audience can expect to see chords shift in unexpected directions, a constant rumble of drums and flawless soaring vocals; or as other's have put it, 'fast-paced chaos, orchestrated and produced seamlessly.'

How will you be choosing your set to appeal to a new audience at Zandari Festa?

We'll be choosing our set in order to keep the audience on its toes at all times. It's a set that went down a storm at Reading and Leeds Festival in the UK and we'll even be throwing in a couple of new tracks for the upcoming show. We're aiming to transfer and intensify the same energy onto the audience at Zandari Festa that you feel listening to our album, 'Munro.'

Chay Heney, guitarist for Sugarmen

Will this be your first time performing in South Korea?

Yes! This is the furthest East we've been and we can't wait.

What does it mean to you to be able to represent the UK in Korea at Zandari Festa?

We've never really thought about it like that. We always just feel like we represent ourselves. There's such a broad spectrum of music in the UK and I guess we represent our little bit and we're thrilled to be coming to Korea to do that. We're really looking forward to exploring Seoul!

What can Korean audiences expect from your performance at Zandari Festa?

Even we don't know what to expect from us! It's always slightly different...

How will you be choosing your set to appeal to a new audience at Zandari Festa?

I think just the same as if we were playing a festival in the UK or anywhere else - keep it to the point and not too long!

There are not just artists from South Korea and the UK, though, as there is the opportunity to watch talent from Denmark, Estonia, Indonesia, Mexico, Japan, the US, Poland and many other countries. The event has grown massively since its original inception in 2012, and is now becoming a major player around the world, gaining recognition all over. Forget sleeping, get watching. Zandari Festa 2016: Miss it, miss out!

For anyone in South Korea, or planning to travel there soon, more information can be found on the official page.